13 Raids Smash Stolen Boat Ring

Smashing what investigators believe is one of the largest boat theft rings in the southeastern United States, state agents recovered at least seven motor boats and more than 40 boat motors Monday in raids in Hampton Roads, Richmond and North Carolina.

The raids capped a two-year investigation that stretched from Virginia through Mississippi and Florida. Authorities say the ring is responsible for stealing more than a million dollars' worth of boats, motors and trailers. They expect more property will be recovered.

In 13 raids Monday, single-motor boats and trailers were recovered from businesses and individuals in Newport News, Hampton, York and Gloucester counties as well as from locations in South Hampton Roads, said Col. Gerald Simmons of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, which licenses motor boats and conducted the investigation.

In addition, at least 40 lower units, or parts of inboard/outboard motors that are attached to the outside of the boat's stern and include the propeller, were recovered from a boat dealer in Hopewell, Simmons said.

Simmons said that charges against as many as 18 people are expected within "a matter of days."

"The mission this morning was to seize the stuff and to get all the information we could and then we'll make the decision on who to charge," Simmons said.

He declined to identify the businesses or individuals who had boats seized until the completion of the investigation, saying, "We don't want to taint somebody until we're sure they're in the wrong."

Donald West, who lives in the Guinea area, confirmed that his boat and trailer had been seized. West said that he bought the boat the winter before last from people in the Richmond area.

Noting that he bought the boat at a bargain price, he said, "I didn't know if it was stolen or not, but it did cross my mind. But right now I don't think I got a good deal, after seeing that boat roll out of my yard."

The investigation was set in motion in February 1988, Simmons said, when a man who became a key suspect in the case attempted to obtain a title on a boat in Portsmouth.

"Some of the documents didn't appear proper," Simmons said. "The bill of sale was from an individual who we couldn't find."

Investigators were able to trace the suspect to Mississippi, Simmons said, where he was also involved in boat thefts. "Some of the boats he stole in Virginia went to Florida," Simmons added. Some of those boats were recovered, he said.

The suspect, now imprisoned on other charges in another state, was described as just a member of the boat theft operation, not the ring leader.

Simmons noted that the investigation was aided by stricter boat titling and dealer licensing laws enacted by the General Assembly.

Most of the boats and motors were stolen from boat yards where they had been placed for storage. Simmons said few if any of the thefts happened on the Peninsula, although he said, "a lot of them were stolen elsewhere and sold on the Peninsula."

A number of the thefts occurred in Gloucester and on the Northern Neck.

The majority of stolen boats were 18- to 19-foot water-skiing boats with inboard/outboard motors ranging in price from $15,000 to $20,000, he said. A few were center-console salt water fishing boats.

The game department has been assisted by the State Police auto theft unit and also worked with agencies in other states.

As to putting an end to the problem of boat thefts in general, Simmons said, "It'll put a dent in it, but it won't stop it."